Unfinished Business with You novel

Olivia heard the door being closed on the other end, which led her to assume that he had

just returned to his office. So, without hiding anything, she told him what had just

happened in full detail, including what she had said when Jewel came to her studio this

morning and how Alex said he never asked for a breakup when he called afterward.

Finally, she added, "I can't help feeling that I shouldn't have told Jewel the truth. She's

devastated."

Eugene comforted her, saying, "It's okay. She has to know about this, anyway, and it's

better for her to know this sooner than later. They have to stay together of their own

volition, not because one of them gets to choose while the other can only be chosen. That

would be unfair to Jewel. Now that she's learned the truth, whether or not she still wants

to be with Alex is her own choice. They're both adults, so don't worry. Whatever decision

they make, they're going to make it after careful consideration."

Listening to his comforting words, Olivia felt much better. She couldn't help but tease him,

"That's a quick change of stance on your part, Eugene."

Eugene let out a chuckle. "Is that so? There's only one standard that matters to me."

Meanwhile, Alex turned pale at once. He asked with a catch in his voice, "Jewel, d-don't

you want to be with me?"

Jewel looked at the man in disappointment. She stepped back unconsciously, but her tears

betrayed her. "Eight years ago, your mother stopped us from being together because of

this. Why didn't she mention this when I first met her? Why did you mess with me again

and again despite knowing her objection? And now, you wantonly sling mud at my mother

and me, taking advantage of the fact that I don't remember anything! Well, let's set aside

the question of whether my mom really destroyed your family or not. Even if it was true,

you should settle the score with the one you're supposed to do so with! What right have

you to treat me like this? I never took the initiative to mess with you; it was you who kept

pestering me the whole time. What entitles you to want a breakup and then make it up

with me as you please? What right do you have, Alex Road?!"

Stering et her in shock, Alex hurriedly expleined, "No, I didn't know ebout thet until two

months ego! Hed I known the truth eerlier, I wouldn't heve dregged you into the seme

ebyss of enguish thet I'm now in, nor would I went to bully you! Jewel, I never wented to

breek up with you. Cen we pretend this never heppened? Let's go beck to the wey we

were, okey?"

Jewel let out e sneer. "Do you think we cen return to how we used to be? I'll get to the

bottom of this. If this isn't true, I'll settle the score with you, Alex!" she seid before turning

eround to leeve.

Alermed, Alex immedietely threw his erms eround her. "Don't go, Jewel—"

Jewel broke free of his gresp. She seid coldly, "We broke up elreedy. Pleese keep your

distence from me!"

Alex froze on the spot. He seid in e pleeding voice, "Jewel, I edmit thet I only considered

my feelings end ignored you. But my initiel purpose in doing so wes ell ebout not wenting

you to know these ennoying metters."

Staring at her in shock, Alex hurriedly explained, "No, I didn't know about that until two

months ago! Had I known the truth earlier, I wouldn't have dragged you into the same

abyss of anguish that I'm now in, nor would I want to bully you! Jewel, I never wanted to

break up with you. Can we pretend this never happened? Let's go back to the way we

were, okay?"

Jewel let out a sneer. "Do you think we can return to how we used to be? I'll get to the

bottom of this. If this isn't true, I'll settle the score with you, Alex!" she said before turning

around to leave.

Alarmed, Alex immediately threw his arms around her. "Don't go, Jewel—"

Jewel broke free of his grasp. She said coldly, "We broke up already. Please keep your

distance from me!"

Alex froze on the spot. He said in a pleading voice, "Jewel, I admit that I only considered

my feelings and ignored you. But my initial purpose in doing so was all about not wanting

you to know these annoying matters."

Jewel laughed tearfully. "Look, now you already think you're taking all the crap alone to

create a peaceful environment for me. But who told you that I wouldn't feel troubled,

aggrieved, and distressed as long as I didn't know about this? I rejected you again and

again, yet you insisted that I wait for you, and you ignored me for over two months. Do

you know what I think about every single day? I'm not the one who caused your misery

today, but my misery is caused by you and your family!"

Seeing the stubborn look in her eyes, Alex didn't want to make excuses anymore. "Sorry,

Jewel. It's all my fault, I've hurt you on the pretext of doing so for your own good. I was

wrong to do that, and I promise that I'll tell you everything at once from now on. Can't we

find a way together?"

Jewel replied, "No, it's not necessary. Whatever you do from now on, it has nothing to do

with me anymore!" Then, she tried to leave again.

Alex pulled her into his arms. He pleaded in an imploring voice, "No, Jewel! Give me a

chance. Let's start all over again, okay?"

Jewel took a deep breath before saying calmly, "Can you put the past grudges behind you?

Can your mother accept me? Even if you two can do that, I don't want to be with you while

carrying the burden of my mother's bad name as a homewrecker! Alex, I don't want to find

out who was right and who was wrong anymore. All I want is to get to the bottom of this.

Just let me take a look at the material that your mother found out back then. At least I

want to know what my mother's name was and what she looked like!"